The Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Antique Boat Show will return to Bemus Point on Saturday. Submitted photo

BEMUS POINT — A sail-ebration of antique boats will be returning to Bemus Point this weekend.

The Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Antique Boat Show will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bemus Point Village Park. This year marks the 22nd time the Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Chapter will host the show, and the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.

There will be 25 antique and classic boats this year. Some will be in the water at the docks by the Village Casino while others will be on the land. Patricia Baldwin, Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier secretary, said there will be other entertainment at the event as well.

“There will be a DJ in the park all day,” Baldwin said. “There will be a tent with a basket auction. A people’s favorite that we are doing is the vote for the People’s Choice Award where people can vote for their favorite boat and the award is given out at the end of the day.”

Baldwin said some boats date back to 1946 while others are from the 1950s and 1960s, with some modern replicas as well.

For Baldwin, people should be interested in coming to the event not only because of the unique boats but also because of the history that Chautauqua Lake has with boating.

“The boats are unique, floating works of art,” Baldwin said. “The history of boating on Chautauqua Lake goes back to the earliest inhabitants. It’s a rich history of personal watercraft and it’s also a fun way to spend the day.”

Besides the boats, Baldwin encourages the public to check out Main Street in Bemus Point, which is not far from the show and offers a variety of other fun things to do throughout the day.

The most exciting part of Saturday’s event for Baldwin is the opportunity to introduce new people to the world of antique boating.

“It is an opportunity to get together and admire the boats,” she said. “You can learn techniques for restoration and maintenance of the older boats, and it keeps people aware of the history surrounding things like this. It’s an opportunity for people to learn.”

Something that Baldwin thought people would be excited for this year are the more unique boats, which includes two racing hydroplanes from the 1960s, which Baldwin said many people might not have seen before.

She hopes the public will come out and have a good time at the event, with the possibility of some enjoying it so much they would be interested in joining the chapter.

“We have 61 members,” she said. “Most of them own a boat, but not everyone does. I would love it if people would come see the boats and become interested in joining. We do lots of activities besides the boat show. Come party with us.”